After a nail biting last – ball thriller in the first T20i of the Three – match series, expectations were pretty high from New Zealand to bounce back in the series with a win in the second T20i. However, the Kiwis were not able to get a desired result at Auckland’s Eden Park. The mighty Aussies, despite their below par batting performance in the first innings, defeated the Mitchell Santner led team by 72 runs in the second game and took an unreachable 2-0 lead in the three – match T20i series. An excellent bowling performance by the Aussie bowling unit saw the Black Caps get bundled out for just 102 runs while chasing 175 runs on Friday, 23rd February.
The Black Caps were dealt a heavy blow during the second T20i when Wicket – Keeper Devon Conway got injured in the first inning of the game while keeping behind the stumps. “Devon (Conway) has departed from Eden Park in order to undergo an X – ray on his injured left thumb after he got hurt while wicket – keeping in tonight’s second T20i against Australia,” New Zealand Cricket said in an official statement.
Luckily, Conway didn’t fracture his thumb but the Wicket – Keeper didn’t take any further part in the second T20i. Conway’s injury has come as a big blow to New Zealand as they are already without the services of youngster Rachin Ravindra, who was ruled out of the second T20i due to a knee injury.
The Kiwis were in a strong position after the end of the Australian innings as they bowled out the Aussies for 174 runs in 19.5 overs. No Aussie batter was able to register a fifty in the first innings of the match. Opener Travis Head (45 runs in 22 balls) top scored for the visitors while Pat Cummins (28 runs in 22 balls) showed some resilience with his cameo but he wasn’t able to prevent the hosts from inflicting an All out against the Kangaroos. Kiwi seamer Lockie Ferguson (4-12) was the best bowler of the night for the hosts while the trio of Adam Milne (2-40), Ben Sears (2-29) and captain Mitchell Santner (2-35) took two wickets each.
With the New zealand bowling unit dominating the visitors in the first innings, it was the turn of the mighty Aussies to bounce back in the match. Josh Hazlewood (1-12) was clinical with his bowling, while Pat Cummins (1-19) provided a good amount of support to the Aussie bowling unit. With Conway out due to injury, the Kiwis didn’t have any idea of how to tackle the Australia pacers. The Pressure put on the top order of the New Zealand Batting order made the hosts batters desperate and they crumbled against the spin wizardry of Adam Zampa (4-34). Zampa’s four wicket haul allowed the Aussie’s to win the Second T20i and seal the Three – Match T20i series.
Aussie ODI and Test captain Pat Cummins (1-19 and 28 runs in 22 balls) was adjudged the Man of The Match, which surprised the 30 year old and he said that he didn’t expect him getting the award and added that he relished the fact of not being the captain of the Australians.
“Dunno how I received this award, but I will take it. Yeah, batting wise, some came off the edges and I guess I will take it. I love this feeling ( of not captaining) and just going to field at the boundary and coming in to bowl. I love it,” the 30 year old said at the post match presentation.
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